quite a few of them. It was just who she was. I didn’t think anyone could meet Tess and not instantly like her. However, that also meant she found out about stuff like this.
“What did you do, interview everyone?” I joked.
“Believe it or not, I didn’t actually ask anyone about you. They just up and told me.”
I actually did believe it.
“So, let’s take it step by step so we can get to the bottom of this,” she said.
I laughed, dropping the pen, putting my own hands on the table too, mimicking my sister’s pose.
“I’m listening.”
Tess nodded, holding up a finger. “First, how long have you been like this?”
“Like you don’t know already. I’m sure your spies told you everything.”
Tess grinned. “They did... but I want to hear it from you.”
“The whole week,” I admitted. “I’ve been in a shitty mood for a week.”
Tess beamed, as if that was somehow something to be proud of.
“Yeah, you weren’t really yourself on Sunday when we saw you. So it started after you came back? Or were you grumpy in Rome too?”
“It started after I came back.”
“Is there something about the deal that is bothering you?”
“No.”
“Do you think you could have done something better?”
I shook my head, opening my mouth to tell her that this wasn’t going anywhere, but Tess held up a hand, probably guessing from my expression that I was losing my patience.
“Bear with me. We’re eliminating causes.”
“Oh, okay. I’m glad to know there is a method to this madness and you’re not just torturing me.”
Tess gasped, clutching at her chest. “I never do things just to torture you. I always want to help. Now, if some things feel like torture... growing pains, you know?”
I had no clue what she meant, but experience had taught me that listening to my sister was a good idea, even if sometimes her method was dubious.
“Yes, well, I think I have it. All signs point to you missing Laney.”
I stared at Tess, waiting for her to continue. She didn’t say anything else.
“That’s it?”
She nodded. I groaned. “I know I’m missing her, genius. I was hoping you were gonna have a solution to snap me out of it.”
“I do.”
That caught my attention. I straightened up again.
“Shoot.”
“You should contact her,” Tess said on a grin.
“That wasn’t our deal.”
“But you miss her.”
“Yes.”
“Maybe she misses you too, and you’ll never know if you don’t call. I have a golden rule: I never ignore my heart.”
I barely bit down a reply, because it wasn’t a nice one. Tess had followed her heart more times than I could count, and she’d gotten it broken just as often. That didn’t keep her from putting herself out there and going after what she wanted every time. I had no idea how she did it.
“I don’t follow that rule, Tess.”
“Maybe you should. What’s the worst thing that can happen?” She leaned back, tilting her head. “Oh, brother, you really, really like her. You’re afraid she’s going to turn you down.”
“I don’t get afraid.” That had always been my motto. I want something, I go after it. So why was I now not going after Laney?
Tess grinned. “This right here is proof that you do. Maybe she misses you too. Is she back now?”
“Her return flight was this morning. She landed at nine forty-five.” She’d told me when she was flying back right before I left.
“You memorized the flight number too?” she teased. “Brother, just call her. Even if you just had a one-night stand—”
“We didn’t.”
“Wait a second. You’re all grumpy, and you didn’t even sleep with her?” She clapped her hands, grinning from ear to ear. “Holy shit, I think you’re ready to forsake your bachelor ways.”
I laughed, drumming my fingers on the table.
“Just putting it out there, but since she and Isabelle are best friends, we can probably invite her to some family events, accidentally bring the two of you together.” Tess was practically jittery with excitement. She’d been bursting to say this for a few minutes.
I cocked a brow. “I don’t need outside intervention.”
“Ha! You hesitated for a millisecond. That means you wouldn’t mind... too much.”
“Tess, was there anything else you needed?” I wasn’t just trying to shift the focus from me. I genuinely wanted to know. Tess was usually forthcoming, so if she’d had something to share, she would have already done so, but it never hurt to insist. Some things she did keep quiet about, only voicing them when she was vulnerable.
“You mean that counseling my brother isn’t reason enough for